Well tool



July 25, 1950 J. LYNEs ETAL WELL TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fili/ffl Zink/:h.

Filed Nov. 24, 1944 INVENTOR 5mm www /Qoe/vfy,

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Flled Nov 24 1944 July 254, 1950 J. LYNEs ETAL 2,516,581

WELL TOOL Filed Nov. 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 3 g: 6 Z

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Patented .uy 25T, 1950 WELL TOOL J ohn Lynes and James A. Armitage,Houston, Tex., assgnors to Lynes, Incorporated, Houston, Tex., acorporation of Texas Application November 24, 1944, lSerial No. 564,919

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a well tool which is particularly adapted forpositioning in the well with a view of sealing oi an area, a formation,portion of a pipe or screen, or for any particular purpose such as fortreating, testing, or cementing.

In providing a tool which must be lowered into a well bore for greatdistances and then manipulated for opening and closing the tool or toeiect circulation above the tool or to discharge or intake fluidsrelative to the well bore below the tool, it is desirable to have a toolwith as few moving or operating parts as possible because all of theparts of the tool are immersed in the drilling uid or well liquid andare subjected to tremendous pressures and often high temperatures, sothat the possibility of the parts sticking or leaking is minimized withthe reduction in the number of movable parts.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a well tool whichis made up of a pipe and one or more packers suspended thereon which areadapted to be inflated .to form a seal in the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well tool, including ahydraulically inflatable packer whereby a single pipe is utilized toboth carry and iniiate the packer and to serve :as a conduit for thedischarge or inlet of uids relative to the well.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a well pipe havingone or more packers suspended thereon in a slidable position in such amanner that liquid forced from the pipe will inflate the packers so asto cause longitudinal contraction of the packers so that slight movementof the pipe will formation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic packerfor a well bore which is supported on an operating pipe in such a mannerthat the inilation of the packer will on slight movement of the pipeopen the pipe for discharge or inlet of liquid or fluid.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an operating pipeand a well packer therefor, which is movably suspended upon the pipe sothat after the packer has been set the pipe may be moved relative to thepacker so as to either circulate above the packer or effect a dischargeor inlet of uid to or from the well below the packer.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide a treating or testingtool having a single operating pipe which may be used to lower the vtoolinto the Well, wash the4 well, innate the then open the tool to the 2packer, and discharge or intake iluid relative to the tool.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulicallyinflatable tool where an opening from the operating pipe is normallydisposed within the coniines of the deflated packer, and which may beuncovered to open the tool to an area outside of the packer afterinflation of the packer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple andeconomical treating, testing, cleaning, and cementing tool for wellswherein a packer may be inflated solely by the application of hydraulicpressure through the pipe and the pipe opened by sliding the inflatingopening out ofthe packer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well tool having aniniiatable packer wherein the same opening in the operating pipe isutilized to inflate and deilate the packer and for inlet and outlet forthe tool.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a well tool whichmay be lowered into a well bore in a normally closed position, thepacker inflated, the well washed above the packer, and the tool thenopened to the formation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a well toolwherein a hydraulic packer may be inflated or deflated and access had toa l sealed oft formation solely by the use of an operating pipe.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent whenthe following description is considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration ofthe tool in normally assembled position ready to be lowered into thewell bore.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the upper packerof the tool of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the lower end of the lower packerof the tool of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tool with the packers inated inposition in the well bore.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the upper packer of the tool ofFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of the lower packer of the tool ofFig. 4.

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show three different positions of a slightly modifiedform of the tool, wherein provision has been made for washing orcirculating in the well above the packer.

As best seen in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the tool is made up of the pipe2 having a swivel collar 3 therein so that the pipe 2 may be rotatedrela- 3 tive to the tool li. This swivel may be of any desire-d form,usually embodying anti-friction bearings which serve to transmit anyload through the swivel While permitting rotation of the pipe whichextends in opposite directions therefrom.

The pipe 2 extends on through the swivel as best seen in Fig; 2 and hasa coil spring E therearound whose upper end l abuts the swivel 3 whilethe lower end 8 thereof rests upon the annular ring lo which is slidablyarranged about the pipe 2.

An outstanding flange Il is xed to the pipe 2 and has a plurality ofopenings therein to receive the suspension bolts I2 which are threadedat I3 into the upper iitting le of the upper packer l5. In this manneras seen*4 in Fig. 2, thisupper packer is suspended from the ange Il innormal position when the packer is not inated and normally retainedmfrom sliding on the pipe because the ring l is pressed against thev boltheads bythe spring 6.

The packer l5' is made up of the upper tting lli'andthe lower ttingi`6'which are spaced apart by the resilient packing Il; which issuitably affixed to the bushings as at I8 at each end in accordance withthe' detail' construction disclosed and claimed in the copendingapplications of' Lynes, Serial No. 65,843, filed December 17, 1948,which is a continuation of Serial No. 473,928, filed January 29,. 1943,for. I-IighPressure Inflatable Packer and Assembly for Testing andTreating Well Formations, now abandoned, and' Serial No. 559,338 filedOctober 19, 1944 for Well Formation Tool and Packer Therefor.

For. purposes of description here, it may be said that this packing ismade up of a packing sleeve 2o having the reinforcing wires or strands2l embedded therein in combination with the internal liner 22 whichtends to seal the connectionlfor the other portions of the packer.

In order to. provide. a seal with the periphery 23 of the pipe 2, the.inside of the packing has the seal. rings,- 24 in position and the ttingI4 may have a plurality of packing rings 25 to assist.in.-maintaining`the seal about the pipe.

The lower tting I6 is arranged in a manner similarY toi-the. upper ttinglli in that such fittingv is slidable on the pipe.

The lower packer 25, illustrated generally in Eig.- 3, is identicallyyconstructed and is suspended fromthe intermediate or middle flange 25 bythe bolts l2. while. the loweri'ltting 2.8 is somewhat longer than thefitting IB of tbeupper packer.

@ne or more openings, 3Q in the pipe 2 are arranged so that. they aredisposed` withinthe confines of the packer i5 when the packer isdedated. When liquid isforced down through the pipe- 2, it willdischarge through these.. openings 3o to the. interior 39' of the packerl5 and cause inflation ofthe packer.

It seems obvious that as this packer is enlarged radially andcircumferentially due to in- Iiation, that of. necessity it willcontract longitudinally. The present tool is,V of such a simple andeconomical construction and arrangement that the positioning of this.opening 3B is such that the first application of pressure will causeiniiation and the longitudinal contraction of the packer to. such anextent that the lower fitting H5 will move up toa position such that.the ring 2A will almostcover the opening at about the time the iniiationis completed. The packer is new rmly engaged against the wall of the.Well or the pipe in the well in which it is positioned so that the pipe2 may be lowered slightly to move the opening 3i! into the fitting I6,This traps the liquid in the packer to lock the packer in an iniiatedposition. Any additional movement of the pipe will uncover the openingas seen in Fig. 5.

In other words, when the packer is deiiated, the opening 3i) will beinside of the packer but whenk the packer is inflated and the pipelowered slightly relative to the packer, the opening will first moveinto the fitting i6 to lock the liquid that is in the packer in suchconfined position so the packer will. remain iniated, and continuedmovement will. then move the opening 3D on through the tting IE into theopening 3l in the. Wellbore 32 as best seen in the bottom of the' upperendsoffmiel-bolts;l The swivel 3' has moved;- clownk with the pipe and'this has caused some compression of the spring 6';

The packer is thus'inated'witha known pressure which is preferablysuicient to hold the packer' in sealingposition with the wall of thewell4 or-th-e' pipe'inwhichl it' has been set so as tov supportthefloadof"Y any liquid which may be in space 33'in the well above the packer.

The amount'of lowering of the pipe may be gauged or-measuredif desired',andthe pipe may havev allor part of the liquid'removed after the packer'is inated and While the opening 30 is in the lower fitting lli` if' anoperation is'to be performed Where it is desired that there be a lesserstatic pressure in the pipe than at the formation or location where thetool is to be opened. Of course if any particular liquid is tobedischarged fromthe tool, such liquid maybe used as'theinfiatingiliquid if desired, but if it is a liquid unsuitable foriniiating the packer or packers, then' a' desired'quantity of suitableliquid may be'rst inserted.Y in the pipe so that the rst appliedpressure will cause the suitable liquid to move into the packers andafter thepackers are closed by movement'of 'the pipe the tool is thenopened.

In releasing the tool it is .only necessary to lift or raise the pipeslightly to return the ports 3U to the interior of the packers and ifthere is an excess. of pressure in the wellbore over that. in

the: pipe, the packersA will deate. The inherent resiliencyl of thepackers-assists in the. deflation i but if the packers should becomestuck, anupward' pull on the pipe raises the ange. Il and a consequentupward pullis exerted onthe-upper end of the packertopull it loose.

The foregoingv description. has beengiven in connection vwithasinglepaclzerV and where such a. single. packeris used, asuitable bullplug, float shoe, or other member 341 will. be threaded onto the lowerendof the.` pipe 2. This.` may be-directly below the openings 3ll'4 if asingle packer is used'or it may beattachedv to, the. lower end. 35 ofthe pipe Z-'as seenin Fig. 6.

The lower packer 2.5 isseen generally irrFig. 6 and its constructionand. operation will. be. the sameas that of the upper packerv I5;Theremay be a slight difference in that the lower tting. 28 is.somewhat: longer than the tting is. onv the lower endof the upperpackeri5y because it may not beJ desirable to` open the. tool into the space{iE-below*theflower'packer. 25; In this. manner the opening 30 Will notbe uncovered as the pipe amasar:

is" lmoved down but will lock the liquid in the packer and thenremaincovered lor closed while the openings 30 between the packers willtendf-to open the tool. y

Very often in operating a tool of this sort it is desirable to lower thetool into position in the well and before the packers are inflated, itmay be desirable to wash the well or to circulate liquid for some reasonor other. To accomplish this, the lower end 35 of the pipe 2 has beenprovided with openings 40 so that circulation may be had. When it isdesired to set the packers, a godevil 4i can be droppedthrough theoperating pipe 2 yso as to land in position as seen in Fig. 6. Suitablepackings 42 are arranged inside of the pipe 2 so as to form a seal withthe go-devil and close the openings 40. A'spear-head 43 on the go-devilpermits its recovery after the oper-ations have peen performed 'and itis desirable to again circulate in the well if the tool is to'be moved uto another location or removed from the well. As seen in Fig. 3 theseopenings 4D will be normally open when the packers are dei-lated and thetool is being lowered into the well bore.

It seems obvious that the tool may be arranged to operate with eitherone or two packers, depending upon the operation to be performed, thelocation of the area to be operated on, treated, tested, cemented, orcleaned.

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show a slightly modied form of the mechanism whereinan arrangement has been provided to determine the position of the piperelative to the packers and which will permit circulation through thewell above the packers after the tool has been lowered into the Well.This arrangement as seen in Fig. '7 includes a coupling 45 which isthreaded at 46 into the upper tting I4 of the packer on the tool or theupper packer if two packers are used. This coupling is provided with aninternal chamber 41 which is arranged to receive a ilange 48 which isquite similar to the flange I I and bolt arrangement I2 in that the angeabuts against a shoulder 49 in a circulation head 50 so that the spring6 pressed against the upper end 5| of this head normally holds thepacker against sliding movement. This arrangement is desired in order tohold the opening 52 in position in the flow-head ,50, so that it will beclosed going into the well bore by being positioned between the twospacedpackings 53.

When, however, the tool is to be operated, pressure can be appliedthrough the operating pipe which will pass outwardly through theopenings 30 to cause inflation of the packer so that it will form a sealat 55 with the well bore or pipe in which the tool is being set. Whensuch a seal is made, then the pipe 2 will be lowered slightly so as tomove the opening 52 downwardly into alignment with the circulating ports56 arranged in the circulating head 50. In this manner circulation canbe had in the well bore so as to wash the space 33 above the upperpacker as seen in Fig. 5. This downward sliding movement of the pipe 2to align the ports 52 and 56 will also lock the liquid in the packers bymoving the port 30 into the lower tting i6 of the packer. In this mannerthe well can be sealed and washed prior to the opening of the tool.

The next step as seen in Fig. 9 will be an additional lowering of thepipe 2 so as to cause the port 52 to move out of alignment with thedischarge port 56 so that it will in turn be sealed in the flow-head 50between the two .spaced packings 51. This lower position is insured duet'ing I4 receives the Hangers 'sd .that the operator knowsthat Vbylowering hislpipeiuntil it' will not move downwardly any moredue 'to'the fact that the load of the `pipe oraportion thereof at least issupported by the packer. The driller will receive this indication bylookingiat his weight indicator. l

Y This downward movement closes the tool above the packer. It opens thetool below the packer due to the fact that the opening 3i) moves out ofthe tting i6 at the lower end of the packer due to the last loweringoperation.

When the desired operation has been performed, it is only necessary tolift slightly the pipe 2 in order to close the tool and if desired thereverse steps may be performed so as to again lopen the ports 5t andpermit circulation either to replace heavy liquid in the well so as toavoid a blow-out when the packer is-released or for the purpose ofwashing materialr away above the packer. The opening of the ports 56 mayalso serve to wash out the operating pipe 2 above the tool.

Ii a pressure is to be retained on the formation, the pipe 2 will beraised so as to move the ports; 3B back into the tting i5, locking anypressure in the area 3l in the well bore below the tool or of course thepressure may be held in the operating pipe 2 on the area below thepacker as long as desired, but in such instance, the pipe would not beraised from the position of Fig. 9,` whereas, if the pressure were to belocked and circulation had in the well above the packer,l the pipe wouldbe raised to the position of Fig. 8.

When the operation has been completed and it is desired to remove thetool, the pipe will be raised an additional amount to the position ofFig. '7 so that the opening i3 moves back into the interior of thepacker so as to allow the packer to deilate. This deating operation isnormally insured due to the fact that the Dacking is resilient and willtend to return to a deflated position. If, however, the packer shouldnot deflate, the pipe 2 may be raised so that the ilange 48 abuts theshoulder 49 and a pull can thus be exercised on the upper end oi' thepacker, tending to draw it out of sealing position.

Broadly, the invention contemplates a vtool which can be used for agreat number of different operations in the well bore such as thetreating of the formation by discharging liquid there-into, the testingof a formation by drawiing liquid from the formation into the tool, thecementing or squeezing of a formation with liq-` uids applied underpressure through the tool or the cleaning of the screen or strainer inthe well.

The simple operation of having only one moving part which is the pipemovable relative to the packer provides a tool which is fool-prooi andwhich insures successful manipulation in the well bore.

What is claimed is:

1. A well tool comprising an operating pipe extending to the top of thewell, upper and lower spaced hydraulically inatable packers thereon,means slidably supporting said packers on said pipe, an opening throughsaid pipe disposed within each packer when deflated to direct liquidunder pressure into the packers to inflate the packers, said packersbeing contractible longitudinally upon iniiation, the upper of saidpackers having a lower fitting slidable on said pipe and tg the factthat trie shoulder 58 of the upper rit- 75 disposed, below the openingin the pipe for the upper packer when the packer is deateia huidexcluding seal in said tting about saidoperat.- ing pipe, said pipebeing slidable to a position to move such opening as the packer isinated'to a position below said lower tting so that the pi-pe is thusopened to the area. between the packers.

2. A Well tool comprising an operating pipe extending to the top of thewell, upperand lower spaced hydraulically inatable packe-rs thereon,means slidablyA supporting saidv packers on said pipe for limite-dlongitudinal movement thereon, an opening through said pipe disposedwithin each packer to direct liquid under pressure into the packers toinnate the packers, said packers being contractible longitudinally uponinflation, the upper of said packers having a lower fitting slidable onsaid pipe and disposed below the opening in the pipe for the upperpacker when the packer is deflated, a. fluid excluding seal in saidfitting about said operating pipe, said pipe being slidable to aposition to uncover suchv opening as the packer is inflated to aposition below said lower fitting so that the pipe is thus opened to thearea between the packers, said pipe within the packer being a blank pipewhen the packer is inated after the movement of said opening out of thepacker due to the fitting moving above said opening and serving to lockthe packer in iniiated condition, said pipe having limited movementrelative to the set and locked packerA so as to return the opening backinto the packer to release and deflate the packer.

3. A well tool' comprising an operating pipe extending to the top oi thewell, upper and lower spaced hydraulically inflatable packers thereon,means slidably supporting said packers on said pipe, an opening throughsaid pipe disposed within each packer when deflated to direct liquidunder pressure into the packers to inflate the packers, said packersbeing contractible longitudinally upon inflation, each of said packershaving a lower fitting slidable on said pipe and normally disposed belowthe said opening in the pipe within the packer when the packers aredeflated, a seal in each fitting about said pipe, said fitting of theupper packer being slidable to a position to cover such opening when thepacker is iniiated, said pipe being slidable relative to the upperpacker so that4 the opening for the upper packer may be moved below thetting thereof so that the pipe is thus opened to the area between thepackers.

4. A well tool comprising a pipe extending to the surface, an inflatablepacker Sealed thereon, means slidably supporting said packer on saidpipe, and an opening in said pipe `which is normally disposed within thedeflated packer and opening into said packer to eiect inflation by the;`applicationof liquid pressure in the pipe,`

saldi-packer being contraotible longitudinally along said pipe. as itinflated. said packer supporting means permitting slidable movement of4fittings. andan inflatable sleeve'r therebetween.

means. to slidably seal said fittings upon said pipe, openings: in the.`pipe to direct liquid into said packers. to inflate the packers, theends of said packers being. movable on the pipe for contraction of..thev length of. the packer: on` the pipeftoiacilitate radial.expansionof said sleeve.

6. .A well. tool comprising an operating pipe extending tothe top oi thewell, upper and lower spaced hydraulically inflatable packersltliereon,means slidably mounting said packers on said pipe, an opening throughsaid pipe disposed within'eaohpaclrer when deflated to direct liquidunder pressure into the packers to inflate the packers, said packersbeing contraotible longitudinally` upon inflation, each of said packershaving a lower ttingslidable on said pipe and normally disposed below?the said opening in the pipe within the packer when the packers aredonated', a` seal in each fitting about said pipe, said lower fitting ofthe upper packer being slidable to' a position to cover'sueh openingwhen the upper packer is inflated, said pipe being slidabl'e relatve tothe inflated upper packer so that the openingfor the upper packer may bemoved below the fitting thereof so that the pipe is thus opened tothearea between the packers', the spacing ofsaid'lower ttingon the lowerpacker with respect to such lower packer opening in the pipe beingv suchthat such lower' tting covers the opening for the lower packer whenthetool is opened: between thefpackers.

' JOHN- LYNES.

JAMES A. ARMITAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the leof'this patent:

UNI'IED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date l-'1"712,6821- Phipps Aug. 12,1930 2,177,601' Smith Oct. 24, 1939 .2,191,635 Stamps Jan. 16, 1940y2,227,731? Lynes Jan. 7, 1941 2,232,825 Hamilton Feb. 18, 1941

